Pelargonium plant named ‘Pacperosy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Pacperosy’, characterized by its uniformly mounding, rounded and slightly cascading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and large soft pink semi-double flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘PACPEROSY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of IvyGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Pacperosy’.

The new Ivy Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to develop new vigorous Ivy Geranium plants withuniform plant habit and numerous attractive semi-double flowers.

The new Ivy Geranium plant originated from an open-pollination duringthe summer of 2009 of Pelargonium peltatum ‘Pachane’, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 21,847, as the female, or seed, parent and an unknownselection of Pelargonium peltatum as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Ivy Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany in June,2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden,Germany since December, 2010 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Ivy Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Pacperosy’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Pacperosy’ as a new and distinct Ivy Geraniumplant:

-   -   1. Uniformly mounding, rounded and slightly cascading plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Large soft pink semi-double flowers that are positioned above        and beyond the foliar plane.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in flower type and color as plants of the femaleparent selection have single-type flowers that are light purple incolor.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of thePelargonium peltatum ‘Paclill’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,956.In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ fromplants of ‘Paclill’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium are more cascading than plants        of ‘Paclill’.    -   2. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium are not as vigorous as plants        of ‘Paclill’.    -   3. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have more flowers per umbel        than plants of ‘Paclill’.    -   4. Plants of the new Ivy Geranium and ‘Paclill’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Paclill’ have soft lavender-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Ivy Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Ivy Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacperosy’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the summerin a glass-covered greenhouse in Dresden, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Ivy Geranium production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C.,night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 15kilolux to 75 kilolux. Plants were pinched two times and were ninemonths old when the photograph and the detailed description were taken.In the detailed description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum ‘Pacperosy’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Pelargonium peltatum ‘Pachane’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,847.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Unknown selection of Pelargonium            peltatum, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Uniformly mounding, rounded and            slightly cascading plant habit; densely foliated; moderately            vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely basal            branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing            per plant.        -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 33 cm.        -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 60 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 35 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Internode length: About 2 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent.            Color: Close to 147B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Mostly opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Palmately lobed.        -   Apex.—Pointed.        -   Base.—Cordate; imbricate.        -   Margin.—Entire, lobed.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Sparsely pubescent along the veins.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 146B. Zonation pattern: Discernable on developing            leaves. Intensity: Moderate. Location: About 2 cm from            margin. Width: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 200A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, rough. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double rotate            flowers arranged in hemispherical umbels arising from apical            leaf axils; umbels displayed above and beyond the foliar            plane on strong peduncles; umbels and flowers face upright            to outwardly; freely flowering habit; about six flowers per            umbel and numerous umbels developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about four months after planting; in the garden in            Germany, flowering begins in May and continues until frost            in the autumn.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about six to ten days on the            plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on the plant;            flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About 15 in several whorls;            petals imbricate. Length: About 2.7 cm to 3 cm. Width: About            1.7 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety; undulate. Color: When opening and            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75B; towards the base,            close to 155D; venation, close to 74A; color becoming closer            to 75C with development. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 75D; towards the base, close to            155D; venation, close to 75D.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: If present, up to three at            the center of the flower. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.            Width: About 5 mm to 15 mm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Pointed            to rounded. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; crinkled.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 75B; towards the base, close to 155D; venation, close to            74A; color becoming closer to 75C with development. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 75D;            towards the base, close to 155D; venation, close to 75D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: About five arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 11 cm. Diameter:            About 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Upright to outwardly            slanted. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 2.5 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture:            Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About eleven. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:            Tubular. Anther color: Close to 59A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 167A. Gynoecium: Pistil            quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma            shape: Seven-parted. Stigma color: Close to 63B. Style            length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 155D. Ovary color:            Close to 138C. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development            have not been observed on plants of the new Ivy Geranium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy    Geranium plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about    35° C. to 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named‘Pacperosy’ as illustrated and described.